Architecture 'is a kind of fantastic multi-dimensional poetry that I find very, very amazing'

Photograph by: Tyler Anderson / Handout photo
, National Post

Like many little boys, Stephen Teeple spent his childhood dreaming of becoming a pilot. But by the time he got to high school, visual arts appeared to be his thing so he signed up for the University of Waterloo's architecture program and hoped for the best. The experience, in Mr. Teeple's words, proved "inspirational" and it propelled the young man to soar to great heights in his chosen field.

Today Mr. Teeple, 56, is piloting an award-winning architecture firm called Teeple Architects, which specializes in a broad range of institutional, commercial and residential projects, including community and recreation centres, libraries, schools and university buildings. The current mix includes The Stephen Hawking Centre (a major expansion of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo) where Mr. Teeple says scientists "will unlock the puzzles of the universe," plus a collection of lowrise, mid-rise and high-rise condominiums projects in downtown Toronto and Oakville with such names as The Hive, OpArt Lofts and Picasso.

Whatever the genre Mr. Teeple and his staff of 30 are immersed in, he always gets a thrill out of dreaming up intriguing spaces that take his clients' aspirations to the next level.

"It's a three-dimensional way - and sensual in the way you think of light, shadow, space, form - of shaping human experience," explains Mr. Teeple of his love for architecture. "It's the ability to compose space in a way that imparts a feeling into that space. For me, it's a kind of fantastic multi-dimensional poetry that I find very, very amazing."

Born in St. Thomas, Mr. Teeple credits his early success to his time spent at the University of Waterloo and at Columbia University, where he earned a Master of Science in building design under the tutelage of British architectural historian and tectonic expert Kenneth Frampton. He took Mr. Frampton's mantra - that modern architecture is as much about structure and construction as it is about space and abstract form - and ran with it while employed at two architectural firms.

By the time Mr. Teeple went out on his own, he found himself bidding on municipal projects against more established firms. He won the projects and industry awards followed, including the Governor General's Medal in Architecture, the Design Exchange Award, the PUG People's Choice Award and the International Holcim Acknowledgement Award.

Mr. Teeple admits he gets revved up when a challenging design opportunity comes his way. In fact, Canadian Encyclopedia claims his buildings often address difficult site conditions. The challenge of the Ajax Main Library, it says, was to create a functional building along a busy suburban road, while the University of Toronto's Graduate House includes a controversial sign at the top of the building that juts out over the street below.

Now Mr. Teeple has another challenging yet intriguing project on his plate and he's thrilled to bits. It's called Picasso, a 39-storey, 403-suite condominium building in Toronto's Entertainment District that promises to shy away from the traditional glass tower approach that dots the city's skyline.

Built by Monarch Corp., Picasso's design is described as a vertical landscape of cubist forms that appear to float - much like the avant-garde artist's cubist artworks - and accentuated by a dramatic red cut that jogs around each building face. Living space will feel like an extension of the urban surroundings, promising spectacular views in every direction. Gardens will grace every 10th floor, with splashes of colour on the building's exterior and throughout the common spaces. There will be three floors of high-end retail and office at the base, and plenty of indoor and outdoor areas to relax and entertain guests. Naturally, Pablo Picasso's artwork will take centre stage, with the artist's bust set to adorn the front of the building as a contribution to public art.

"A lot of tall buildings are sort of discreet glass boxes or shapes," Mr. Teeple says. "The whole nature of this one is to do a more solid-looking sculptural form that is responsive to the city, that connects into the city, and just doesn't sit there as another glass object in space. There are protruding white volumes that - move around in relation to the urban condition. And the base connects out and matches the height of the adjacent buildings on Richmond Street so the building is connected both to the street and to more distant relationships in the city. It's a much more urbane approach."

To Mr. Teeple's delight, the developer who conceived Picasso feels just as strongly about shaping city living. Art lover Murray Goldman of The Goldman Group heads up a 50-year-old family business that's behind many of Toronto's established high-end residences including Castle Hill Townhouses near Casa Loma and The Ports at Yonge and Summerhill. When he caught wind of a vacant parking lot up for grabs at Queen and Richmond streets, he snatched it up with a vision of constructing something Toronto had yet to see. After discovering Teeple Architects' colourful design of Toronto Community Housing Corp.'s non-profit co-op at 60 Richmond St. E., he knew he had found his match.

"I wanted someone who wasn't set in his thoughts as to what a condo building should be, because I wanted to build a different building," Mr. Goldman recalls. "The whole building is different. It's bright, airy and not a traditional high-rise. I don't think there's a white residential building downtown with splashes of colour. [Stephen] has captured the artistic feel. - He had a fresh approach."

It's that originality that has Mr. Goldman believing young couples working downtown will flock to Picasso's 500-to 2,000-square-foot suites, ranging from $279,000 to more than $2-million. In fact, it's his favourite project thus far.

"It will be the most artistic building downtown, the most beautiful-looking building downtown," he gushes.

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